BOB INGLE: Obama gets a bounce

Some pundits predicted an October surprise, that's political speak for when an administration manipulates things to create news that influences an election. We got a surprise all right, one called Sandy. Lots of news created, but will it affect election results? Maybe. No doubt, however, there will be a lasting effect.

By the time the big storm ravaged New Jersey and numerous other states, millions of early votes had been cast across the nation. Others who planned to vote on Election Day had made up their mind who to support. That leaves the relative handful of undecideds which would make a difference only in a really tight election.

Sandy's biggest political influence will come after the election, especially if President Barack Obama wins. Americans love a leader. When tragedy strikes we want someone up front to assure us things are under control and in the end things will be all right.

We need a collective hug. And that's what we got when Obama flew to Atlantic City and joined with Gov. Chris Christie, who only days earlier had said the president was "like a man wandering around a dark room, hands up against the wall, clutching for the light switch of leadership, and he just can't find it."

What a difference a hurricane makes. Christie spoke with the same enthusiasm and gusto as before but this time Obama could do no wrong - his reaction to New Jersey's crisis was "wonderful" and "excellent" and "outstanding."

When the governor returned from the Marine One survey of the shore he continued the praise. Obama, he said, was on the phone in the car when they were going to a shelter directing that New Jersey get the help Christie wanted. For his part, the president said he had told federal officials he was installing the 15-minute rule - calls returned to local and state officials in 15 minutes and they were to find a way to get them what they needed.

As for Christie, even people who have called him an obnoxious blowhard had to admit the governor was at the top of his game, a man in charge. Yet, as he ticked off grim statistics about power outages, roads closed and possible water shortages he maintained that Jersey humor. When asked if he could postpone Halloween by executive order because streets were unsafe Oct. 31, the governor said with a grin his power knows no bounds. Neither does his commitment or energy.

Mitt Romney supporters and right-wing gabbers were unhappy with this unexpected bromance between the president and Christie, the keynote speaker of the Republican National Convention, a man Romney called a hero to the GOP. It was a particularly tough week for Romney whose political ads were drowned out by Sandy coverage.

Making it worse, Romney said during the primary campaign that everything than can be passed to the states should be, and better than that, passed to private business. That was interpreted as being a threat to FEMA, the federal disaster agency, the very outfit saving the day before the nation's eyes.

Sandy demonstrated how no state, much less private business, could tackle the enormous task ahead. Every time Romney was asked about FEMA he didn't answer, which made him look worse. Finally his campaign put out a statement saying he would support FEMA. But the budget from his running mate Paul Ryan (Remember him? The campaign has kept Ryan out of the spotlight.) cuts FEMA by 40 percent.

The images from tragedies stick in out minds. Those buildings' ruins after 9/11. New Orleans under water following Katrina. From Sandy it probably will be the two men who rose above petty party politics to do what's best for the people.

The partisan pols in Congress who took every opportunity to make Obama look ineffective and a loser are going to look mighty small and trivial in comparison. The state and nation will remember Christie, too. Even his harshest critics have to admit when things got tough, he got going.

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BOB INGLE: Obama gets a bounce

Some pundits predicted an October surprise, that's political speak for when an administration manipulates things to create news that influences an election. We got a surprise all right, one called